Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biosphere reserve, the Mount Carmel area reveals a nearly 500,000 year-long sequence of human evolution exposed in caves, rock shelters and open-air sites along mountain valleys and the nearby coastal plain.
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Both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biosphere reserve, the Mount Carmel area reveals a nearly 500,000 year-long sequence of human evolution exposed in caves, rock shelters and open-air sites along mountain valleys and the nearby coastal plain. Unlike any other region in the world, Mount Carmel’s key sites, such as the Tabun and Skhul caves, preserve evidence of both modern human and Neanderthal populations, at sites less than 100 meters from each other. As such, situated atop the Carmel Mountain, Haifa University provides students with an ideal setting for the study of Prehistoric Archaeology and an invaluable opportunity to take part in field research all over Israel’s historic landscape.

Upon completion of the program, students will be awarded a Master of Arts in Archaeology from the Faculty of Humanities and the Department of Archaeology.

What you will study

The program focuses on the prehistory and paleoenvironment of the Mount Carmel region and each student can choose to specialize in one of many relevant topics, such as lithic, faunal, geological and palynological studies. Students will benefit from a rich variety of courses focusing on prehistoric studies, as well as from a range of additional key topics including environmental archaeology; archaeological theory and method; and archaeology of the Southern Levant. The one-year program is taught in English over three consecutive semesters from October until September.

Students wishing to pursue the thesis track will need to submit a research thesis within one year of completing their coursework and may require remaining at the university for an additional one or two semesters.

Careers

Graduates of the program can find employment with archaeological contractors, local government, university archaeology departments, national heritage agencies, national parks, museums and with independent archaeological consultants.

Field Work

Here at Haifa University’s Archaeology department, we believe that archaeology starts and ends in the field. As part of the program, students are exposed to applied sciences, research methods and hands-on experience with the sites and settings of Mount Carmel, the Galilee and the Negev; and an acquaintance with the challenges of prehistoric research. The interdisciplinary curriculum offers students exceptional opportunities for advanced training and individual research in a dynamic learning environment, with exclusive access to the natural laboratory provided by the diverse landscapes and numerous prehistoric sites around the university campus.

Researchers in the Department of Archaeology are currently conducting surveys and excavations in a wide variety of sites and offer students the opportunity to take an active role in these projects. For a full description of the course curriculum please visit us here.

Students who have not completed an undergraduate degree in archaeology or anthropology will be required to successfully complete the following introductory courses before the first semester of the program:

• Introduction to Anthropology/Archaeology

• Introduction to Quantitative Analysis/Basic Statistics

Under certain exceptional circumstances, the review committee may be willing to consider applicants who do not meet the minimal admissions requirements. Please see the program website for course descriptions and additional details.

Courses

Track A & B Core Courses

Human Ecology in the Levant: Seminar

Selected Topics in Prehistory: Seminar

Prehistoric Mount Carmel and the Galilee: Seminar

Mount Carmel Field Campus: Workshop

Negev Field Campus

Galilee Field Campus

Archaeology in the Southern Levant

Near Eastern Prehistory

Advances in Prehistoric Research

Introduction to Lithic Technology: Workshop

Advanced Lithic Technology: Workshop

Department Seminar

Track A Electives & Track B Core Courses*

Archaeobotany

Archaeozoology

Geoarchaeology

Physical Anthropology

Practical Osteology

*Three of these courses will be offered each year.

Faculty

Our experienced and field-active staff at Haifa University’s Archaeology department offer a warm and applied tutorship that covers many of the fields specializations. Read our Blog to get more insight on our faculty.

Scholarships

This program is now eligible for Masa scholarship. Please click here to apply on Masa website directly or contact a MASA representative at [email protected]. Information on more financial aid can be found here.